In Sierra Leone, the EU between 2012 and 2017 provided 4,2 million € assistance to improve the protection and governance of Sierra Leone’s natural resources through a project for the Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation called REDD+.

The specific objective of the REDD+ project was to generate the conditions for sound forestry governance.

Among the many actions undertaken were awareness raising on the need for forest conservation, the creation of school nature clubs, the implementation of a pilot project in Port Loko on sustainable charcoal pilot plantations and capacity building of the National Protected Area Authority.

REDD+ was part of the EU’s flagship climate change programme GCCA+ and the EU to Sierra Leone in 2017 received an Environmental Award for the REDD+ project achievements.

Follow photographer Jonathan Bundu's story on the trail of illegal charcoal burners in the forests which surround Guma Lake. Jonathan’s assignment was part of the GCCA+ programme.

http://gcca.eu/stories/trail-sierra-leones-illegal-charcoal-burners

“Of course, the people involved in the charcoal production run away, knowing that they will be arrested if they are caught. We need more robust measures because while the charcoal business is causing a small-scale destruction, timber logging is the master killer of our forest and has caused so much devastation to our country.”

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